Raleigh native Chris Archer named to AL All-Star team

Raleigh native and Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer was among the players named to the AL All-Star team on Monday night.

Archer, who starred at Clayton High, is 9-5 with a 2.18 ERA and is tied for first in strikeouts in the AL with 141 along with fellow All-Star White Sox pitcher Chris Sale and Indians pitcher Corey Kluber.

It has been a career year for Archer so far, as his ERA is a full run lower than any season during his four-year career. Archer, a fifth-round draft pick by the Cleveland Indians in 2006, spent parts of the 2011, ’12 and ’13 seasons with the Class AAA Durham Bulls. While with the Bulls, he was 13-12 in 37 starts.

This is Archer’s first All-Star selection, and he will join fellow Rays pitcher Brad Boxberger on July 14 for the All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

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According to the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times, Archer was elected in the vote of AL players. Boxberger was one of three relievers appointed by AL manager Ned Yost.

“There’s no words to describe how special this is,” Archer told the newspaper, which also said he will be a candidate to start the game.

Boxberger said he didn’t know what to expect when pitching coach Jim Hickey summoned him to manager Kevin Cash’s office Monday afternoon.

“Shock,” Boxberger told the Tampa Bay Times. “I didn’t really see it coming so I’m still trying to let it think in and see how it goes.”

This marks the first time since 2013 that two Rays will be in the All-Star Game and the first instance in three years there will be two pitchers. The Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times and FoxSports.com contributed to this article.